The Dancing Egg (L’Ou com Balla)
Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi, a Western Catholic tradition. Catholics (and a few other religions) celebrate this day with processions through the streets of towns and cities around the world.
But something that seems to be unique to Barcelona (or certainly Catalonia) is the tradition of L’Ou com Balla (the Dancing Egg).
There are many stories as to its origins. Some say it’s a metaphor for the cycle of life or simply that it was an amusement for the nobles as the processions went by (which I much prefer). But it does seem to have been going on for a rather long time. Since the sixteenth century! That’s quite a few eggs!
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Tom Stade
UPDATE: Venue Change
Now at La Fira, c/ Provenca, 171
I first wrote about the Giggling Guiri back in March. I’d just been to see Howard Marks and had seen Steve Hughes previous to that. Well shortly it’s their last show of the season and if you haven’t been to one of their Barcelona comedy events then I urge you to do so.
Tom Stade is in town for their season-ending show and by all accounts he is worth seeing. And apparently the girls like him though I can’t see it myself.
“TOM STADE: nominated for Best Headliner in the Chortle Awards 2011, people in the UK have finally woken up to this pearl of Canadian comedy who has come and settled amongst them. A comic who likes to do things a little different has won over the British hearts with his brilliant and unique takes on their culture. We catch him on what was supposed to be the end of a total sellout 40 date UK tour which has now been extended into the Autumn with another 30 dates added to meet public demand. The kind of touring reserved only for the very hottest acts in comedy. Sizzling!!”
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The Memoro Project website
Sometimes old people are annoying. Sometimes young people are too. But generally old people are bloody interesting. They have lived through things that luckily for me I can only try and imagine. They have stories of experiences that I could sit and listen to for hours. And often a world view that is just plain enlightening. So much personal history to cherish and retell.
Well luckily for us that’s what Memoro Project is trying to do. The ‘Bank of Memories’ is a non-profit project set up in Italy in 2007.
“…dedicated to collecting and divulgating short video recordings of spontaneous interviews with people born before 1940.”
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This article is about the After Tea Barcelona market in May 2011. You can still read what Rouge had to say about why she started the market below. But for information on recent events check out the After Tea Facebook page.
I first heard about After Tea only yesterday from Colin the Chiropractor. He likes to share the love. He had some fliers in his practice, right next to my cards in fact. After Tea no. 6 is this very Saturday 14thMay. I spoke to the organiser, Rouge Francesca Zambito, to get an idea of what to expect.
What is ‘After Tea’?
“With this project we want to reinvent street markets by creating an authentic party. We don’t only want to offer a place where you can sell goods, but a space where you can share your ideas and enjoy a pleasant afternoon surrounded by people with genuine ideas.” Read the rest of this article…
“A perfect day in Barcelona for me would, without doubt, be spent during one of the sweltering, balmy days in mid-summer when your pace slows right down as the slightest movement results in beads of sweat trickling down your neck and back. At these times of year one of those fold-up fans that slips into your bag is indispensable, if you’ve not spent a summer in Barcelona then buy one in advance and be prepared. Fellas, you’ll have to make do with rolling up one of the free newspapers given out at metro stops until someone comes up with a male styled version.
D. Tomás Sirvent Planelles’ original 1920 premises near Santa Caterina market
So, to start my day. Seeing as it’s summer and my usual healthy appetite isn’t quite what it normally is, I might forgo a regular breakfast and just head straight to Sirvent off of Ronda de Sant Pau to pick up a large granizado de limon, a sweet yet tart crushed ice drink. The ice cream at Sirvent is also wonderful but I think it’s a bit early for a tub of that just yet. Read the rest of this article…
Issue 3 of my favourite English language Eurocatalan newsletter is out today. Read my previous post on this newsletter if you haven’t already.
From the website:
This new issue of InTransit includes many different articles that help us better understand this historical spirit of Europeanism, and also what an opportunity it would be if the Mediterranean Euroregion were to become an economic and cultural reality within a united Europe. In short, the Commonwealth of the South.
Eight or so articles about Catalonia’s place in Europe now and in the past. Interesting articles were:
You can download the full PDF version of the current issue below:
C.R.E.A.M. Bikes & Things (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)
“Now then, I’m five years deep in Catalonia, so I have my regular hang-outs and haunts, but that’s not to say there aren’t some glaring omissions in my fun day, as I am uncovering hidden gems on a monthly basis.
My day is fairly season-neutral. There are tons of special events around Barcelona throughout the year, but the route I’ll set out can be enjoyed on any old day. You’re going to need a bike though, which can be rented in various locations around the city. The most fashion-conscious will head straight to Cream and hook themselves up with a fixed-gear number, not cheap at 50€ a day, but let’s imagine your trip is being sponsored by a rich uncle bribing you to keep shtum after coming onto you at Christmas.
Breakfast. Starting in the Raval, I can definitely vouch for a pastoral and healthy first meal of the day at Olivia (c/ Pintor Fortuny). Tiny, comfortable, local press to peruse, hot mums make up the clientele. Or if that’s full, check out Forn de Betlem across the way, still good produce and press, not as healthy, hot mums make up the staff. Read the rest of this article…
